Incremental Petroleum (IPM) and Otto Energy (OEL) report drilling in the fourth well in the 2008 programme, Arpaci 2, has encountered a gas filled strata at about 169m, the uppermost primary objective of the well.
Due to high pressures and substantial mud losses in the well-bore, the well has been plugged back and will be re-drilled with an amended casing and drilling mud programme to accommodate the high gas pressures.
While the new well cellar is being prepared, the rig will now commence an extensive testing programme of earlier gas discoveries before returning to re-drill Arpaci-2 in a few weeks time.
The Arpaci structure is a NW oriented fault bounded anticlinal structure, with strong seismic amplitudes at more than one level. The closure covers a mapped area of about 2.7 sq. km.
The partners in the Edirne Gas project are Incremental Petroleum 55%, Otto Energy 35% and Petraco Energi (10%), who is the joint operator with Incremental.